The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-06-09
Random Thoughts.
j. II. M.

There is always an element Of un'
certainty about the investment o1
money in any enterprise. If it were
possible for a capitalist to foresee the
probable return on an investment, il
would not be long until the commu-
nifty in which he lived would be flour
ishing with new, and ever new, bust.
ness ventures. But these things are
all problematical. The venture may
give good returns, or it may leave the
person so investing good deal wiser
and a good deal sadder than before.
Certain it is, however, that the man
who holds back his investments until
he knows he will receive great profits
therein, will be very slow to invest.
This is one element those parties have
to contend against who try to get up
business excitements, and a rage for
building up and improving towns. 1t
is very easy to draw plats, number i'm
aginary streets, locate ideal parks,
lakes, and the like, but when the man
who has money to invest asks where
his return is to come in, the reply is
too often incomplete and unsatisfac-
tory. If in the face of this state
Of things the capitalist declines
to invest, he is posted as an enemy to
public improvements and commercial
progress. This is a wrong idea, and
one which will 60 far toward convinc-
ing the capitalist that the man who
accuses him is not a proper person to
be placed in charge Of commercial in
terests.
There is one thing that should be
remembered: When the enthusiastic
young man urges the people to invest
money in an enterprise in which he is
personally interested, he must consider
the fact that he sees the venture only
from the one side, often the stand
point Of selfshness. Men will be the
judges of their own investments. If
those investments are for the benefit
of the community at large, believe
those investing will be all the happier
and more prosperous in consequence.
There are many ways in which the
public good may be subserved by the
use of little capital, without great
risk, but it is not always easy to get
capitalists to understand it,
While there may be some enter
prises not giving such great promise
of large returns as others, still the in
vesting in these less promising ven-
lures may lead to something better.
Towns are built up step by step, and
it is useless to hold back for the best
investment at the start Whatever
is done, capitalists of any town should
be willing to use their means, if used at
all, for the benefit of the town in which
they live. Itmay not always be a won
derfully valuable scheme, ye tas long as
there is no danger Of actual loss, it is
right for men who are able, to assist
in pushing forward the good Of the
community. Let us remember one
thing, friends, as we 60 along. There
is vast difference between a legiti-
mate attempt to build up business and
increase the prosperity of communi-
ty, and an attempt to encompass some
mercenary and dishonest scheme, to
iniure one business in the interest of
another Men of ordinary discern
ment can distinguish between the
windy "boomer" and the progressive
citizen, very readily. When you see
young man rushing wildly about,
declaring that everybody who is not
as foolish as himself is opposed to
progress, it is just as well if you keep
your money out of his hands. 1t is
not so much the town he desires to
improve, as his own exchequer.
have occasionally met men of this
kind, men whom | had known for
twenty years without having heard of
their doing anything for the town or
community in which they lived, yet
who were suddenly struck with the
great need Of the community for live,
active men. Such fellows never sue
ceed in enlisting capital, to any alarm
ing extent. What is needed to in
crease the value Of property, and bet
ter the business interests of any town,
say, jackson for instance, is for mon
eyed men to make careful investments
with view to running safe business.
And where honest men are making a
commendable effort to build up the
town, let everybody help them along.
The Lomax Rifles, Of Mobile, Ala,
took first prize for company drill at
the National Drill at Washington.
The Toledo Cadets, who made the
loudest show, and for whom the prize
was confidently claimed, ranked sew
enth.
The candidates for office are COM
ing. 1t is an old saying that "the
more the merrier," but we should not
go into the coming County Conven-
tion with the idea Of making things
merry" The number of candidates
need not create any unpleasant feel
ings. Every Republican has right
Of course to present his name to the
convention as a candidate, and the
convention has an equal right to Sc
lect that man who, in its judgment,
promises the most successful race.